Introducing our new Co-chairs of Five Oaks!

RUTH NOBLE

My name is Ruth Noble, and I currently live in Toronto. My previous role at Five Oaks was managing donor development, fundraising and grants. I also have the pleasure of serving as the Minister of Community Engagement at Rosedale United Church. My connection to Five Oaks is long and deep. My first time at Five Oaks my mother was 6 months pregnant with me. My Dad created the fireplaces at Five Oaks.

MAYA LANDELL

My name is Maya Landell, and I live in Etobicoke with my husband Adam Hanley, my daughter Norah (1 0yr) and our beagle basset hound Sophie. As the lead minister at Islington United Church, I have the opportunity of living out my passion of building healthy community and making spaces where people can learn to lead with grace and courage. My connection to Five Oaks has spanned the past 25 years.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CO-CHAIRS

In our call to serve Five Oaks together, the two of us will be taking on different responsibilities. Maya will be chairing the board meetings and Ruth will be lead on fundraising initiatives and connection with our committees. This division of tasks will help us sustain a healthy board and also support the Executive Director and staff of Five Oaks Centre. We look forward to being regularly on site for meetings and supporting program initiatives.

Our first experience as co-chairs was attending a 3-day Racial Healing Initiative workshop onsite at five oaks. The purpose of this workshop was to strengthen the capacity of Five Oaks to advance racial healing and systemic change in both our organization and communities. We partnered with Lorren Buck from Racial Healing Initiative in St. Louis and Pegi Ridout, a former Executive Director at Five Oaks. It was an amazing opportunity to make con­nections and to gain wisdom from a diverse community. During this workshop, both of us were especially struck by a quote from Audre Lorde. We hope that you will take time to reflect on the wisdom of these words.

“Without community there is no liberation … but community must not mean a shedding of our differences, nor the pathetic pretense that these differences do not exist.”
– Audre Lorde.

The retreat also taught us to listen to the wisdom in our own bodies. This is how we both address the grief we each carry and take steps toward building a world where all bodies are valued. Our goal here at Five Oaks is to bring people together for healing. This workshop was an opportunity for us to live out this calling.

Both of us would like to thank you for your continued support of Five Oaks. We look forward to how we might find new ways to enact justice and heal our community!

A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Friends,

A thick blanket of yellows, reds, browns, with hues of burnt bronze, gold and crimson covers the ground. The last leaves are now hanging on as the forest lets go prepares for Winter. This year the colours have been intense, and October has been gloriously warm. As the seasons change, I am reminded daily that Five Oaks continues to be sacred place for healing, justice, rest and renewal. This past week I participated in the Racial Healing Initiative, a program connected to the Retreat Centre Collaborative. 16 of us joined together to go deep into what it means to be an Intercultural Centre and left the time with clear goals and objectives to continue to advance this work.

This year we have hosted 81 migrant workers for 80 days of commuter care, cared for over 400 children attending a sold out day camp over 9 weeks, opened our site to swimmers, forest school participants and rafters – over 800 per weekday, Hosted over $280,000 in programs (Seeking Transformation, Racial Healing Initiative, Time for You, Painting for the Soul) and retreats (Native Peoples Retreat, and hosted retreats), and updated the interior of House on the Hill and replacing the roof on the Main Building. We have also navigated through a labour shortage, change over of staff and difficulties in predicting needs and trends.

And I need to be frank with you, despite all our efforts to end the year with a small, planned deficit, we will have a deficit that will reach around $130,000. We need your help to reduce this amount in order that our reserves are not depleted.

This does not mean that Five Oaks is at risk of closure, we have built up enough reserves to withstand this deficit – but we would rather not deplete this amount fully, leaving enough space if something else, unexpectedly arises. By digging deep at the end of this year, we can together ensure steady footing for next year. As the world opens up again, you opening your heart and financial support will enable us to live into the sacred possibilities that lie before us.

There is so much on the horizon for Five Oaks as we discover how to offer retreat in a post-COVID world. Our strategic plan demonstrates our commitment to intercultural work for all ages. Pilot programs are underway for school programs that teach about diversity and adult programs that engage rest and renewal and the justice work of right relations, and a program staff model that will work towards these goals. Two grants have enabled the addition of a 3-season patio off our dining room and upper room, set to be completed at the end of this year, and in early 2023, an HVAC process that will bring air sourced heating and cooling to the Upper Room and offices, a first step away from fossil fuels heating our main building, and finally some air conditioning.

The Board and I are working hard to ensure that this place continues for generations to come, and I pray that you will join with me in making an extra donation to make the difference, The world needs Five Oaks now more than ever, be a part of its present and future.

In Peace,

Michael Shewburg, Executive Director.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Friends,

A thick blanket of yellows, reds, browns, with hues of burnt bronze, gold and crimson covers the ground. The last leaves are now hanging on as the forest lets go prepares for Winter. This year the colours have been intense, and October has been gloriously warm. As the seasons change, I am reminded daily that Five Oaks continues to be sacred place for healing, justice, rest and renewal. This past week I participated in the Racial Healing Initiative, a program connected to the Retreat Centre Collaborative. 16 of us joined together to go deep into what it means to be an Intercultural Centre and left the time with clear goals and objectives to continue to advance this work.

This year we have hosted 81 migrant workers for 80 days of commuter care, cared for over 400 children attending a sold out day camp over 9 weeks, opened our site to swimmers, forest school participants and rafters – over 800 per weekday, Hosted over $280,000 in programs (Seeking Transformation, Racial Healing Initiative, Time for You, Painting for the Soul) and retreats (Native Peoples Retreat, and hosted retreats), and updated the interior of House on the Hill and replacing the roof on the Main Building. We have also navigated through a labour shortage, change over of staff and difficulties in predicting needs and trends.

And I need to be frank with you, despite all our efforts to end the year with a small, planned deficit, we will have a deficit that will reach around $130,000. We need your help to reduce this amount in order that our reserves are not depleted.

This does not mean that Five Oaks is at risk of closure, we have built up enough reserves to withstand this deficit – but we would rather not deplete this amount fully, leaving enough space if something else, unexpectedly arises. By digging deep at the end of this year, we can together ensure steady footing for next year. As the world opens up again, you opening your heart and financial support will enable us to live into the sacred possibilities that lie before us.

There is so much on the horizon for Five Oaks as we discover how to offer retreat in a post-COVID world. Our strategic plan demonstrates our commitment to intercultural work for all ages. Pilot programs are underway for school programs that teach about diversity and adult programs that engage rest and renewal and the justice work of right relations, and a program staff model that will work towards these goals. Two grants have enabled the addition of a 3-season patio off our dining room and upper room, set to be completed at the end of this year, and in early 2023, an HVAC process that will bring air sourced heating and cooling to the Upper Room and offices, a first step away from fossil fuels heating our main building, and finally some air conditioning.

The Board and I are working hard to ensure that this place continues for generations to come, and I pray that you will join with me in making an extra donation to make the difference, The world needs Five Oaks now more than ever, be a part of its present and future.

In Peace,

Michael Shewburg, Executive Director.

Program Spotlight: Seeking Transformation: A Retreat for Christian Settlers

n the weekend of September 30th (beginning on Orange Shirt Day) nineteen people from a variety of church traditions gathered around the Sacred Fire Pit at Five Oaks, to learn and reflect on the church’s role in colonialism and residential schools. The retreat was led by Derek Suderman, Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, Tanya Dyck Steinmann from Five Oaks and Stephanie Hill, from Six Nations. Here’s what some partici­pants said:

“It started to answer the why. Why are we engaging Indigenous – Settler Relations. It is of course good to do so – we know it. But this began to draw out more firmly why it is the church’s work to do.”

“I was not sure what the retreat was ‘all about’ or what it would include. I was most pleasantly surprised. I would like others to experience it. I shared with staff this morning and was surprised at the ensuing conversation about the Philippines, Burkina Faso and Canada. Colonialism is alive and well and when we move our framework of reading scripture, it makes a difference. I think Tanya and Derek, you worked well together in providing the teaching and the spiritual direction.”

“The teaching sessions and the final campfire circle sharing were very impactful for me. I love digging into scripture texts and historical documents. It was also great to have Stephanie at both the beginning and end of our time together. Her teachings were profound. The textual analysis fed my mind campfire time fed my heart, walking fed my body.”

“I appreciated the opportunities for getting outside and spending time in silence. I appreciated the morning meditation–all as ways of tending to the whole person. Oh and the food was great toot”

We ended our time together along the banks of the Grand River, laying tobacco, offering our prayers and gratitude for all that was shared. Thank you to Mennonite Church Eastern Canada for sponsor­ing this retreat. We hope to run this retreat again in September 2023. Stay tuned for more Decolonization Retreats, each designed with a specific focus. 

Programs starting in 2023!

January 7 – Owl Prowl and Birding – Two time slots

January 9 – Introduction to the Enneagram – Online

January 17 – Books and Coffee

February 9 – Men’s Spirituality Retreat

March 9 – Deeper into the Enneagram: Defense Mechanisms – Online

March 18- Spring Equinox Owl Prowl and Birding – Two time slots

Program Spotlight: Seeking Transformation: A Retreat for Christian Settlers

n the weekend of September 30th (beginning on Orange Shirt Day) nineteen people from a variety of church traditions gathered around the Sacred Fire Pit at Five Oaks, to learn and reflect on the church’s role in colonialism and residential schools. The retreat was led by Derek Suderman, Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, Tanya Dyck Steinmann from Five Oaks and Stephanie Hill, from Six Nations. Here’s what some partici­pants said:

“It started to answer the why. Why are we engaging Indigenous – Settler Relations. It is of course good to do so – we know it. But this began to draw out more firmly why it is the church’s work to do.”

“I was not sure what the retreat was ‘all about’ or what it would include. I was most pleasantly surprised. I would like others to experience it. I shared with staff this morning and was surprised at the ensuing conversation about the Philippines, Burkina Faso and Canada. Colonialism is alive and well and when we move our framework of reading scripture, it makes a difference. I think Tanya and Derek, you worked well together in providing the teaching and the spiritual direction.”

“The teaching sessions and the final campfire circle sharing were very impactful for me. I love digging into scripture texts and historical documents. It was also great to have Stephanie at both the beginning and end of our time together. Her teachings were profound. The textual analysis fed my mind campfire time fed my heart, walking fed my body.”

“I appreciated the opportunities for getting outside and spending time in silence. I appreciated the morning meditation–all as ways of tending to the whole person. Oh and the food was great toot”

We ended our time together along the banks of the Grand River, laying tobacco, offering our prayers and gratitude for all that was shared. Thank you to Mennonite Church Eastern Canada for sponsor­ing this retreat. We hope to run this retreat again in September 2023. Stay tuned for more Decolonization Retreats, each designed with a specific focus. 

Programs starting in 2023!

January 7 – Owl Prowl and Birding – Two time slots

January 9 – Introduction to the Enneagram – Online

January 17 – Books and Coffee

February 9 – Men’s Spirituality Retreat

March 9 – Deeper into the Enneagram: Defense Mechanisms – Online

March 18- Spring Equinox Owl Prowl and Birding – Two time slots

We invite you to support Five Oaks’ vision and mission in the way easiest for you.

To donate by phone: 519.442.3212 (Mon-Fri, 9am-4:30pm, VISA or Mastercard)

To donate by E-Transfer: finance@fiveoaks.on.ca

We invite you to support Five Oaks’ vision and mission in the way easiest for you.

To donate by phone: 519.442.3212 (Mon-Fri, 9am-4:30pm, VISA or Mastercard)

To donate by E-Transfer: finance@fiveoaks.on.ca